Girlfriend smuggled drugs into Addiewell Prison

Oct 15 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A PRISONER who pressurised his teenage girlfriend into smuggling drugs into Addiewell Prison for him has had his sentence extended.

Ryan Hinde, 17, who was just one month into a 16-month sentence, phoned girlfriend Danise Smith and asked her to bring cannabis to him at the jail.

When she visited him at the West Lothian Prison — the day before Hinde’s 17th birthday in March this year — staff became suspicious when it appeared their hands touched under the table.

Hinde then appeared to be concealing something in his hand.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin told Livingston Sheriff Court: “The visit was terminated after the prisoner refused to say what was in his hand.

“He refused to assist officers and say what was in his hand or be searched.

“At a later point he revealed that it was a brown substance wrapped in cling film.

“It tested positive for cannabis.”

The class B drug weighed 5.5 grams and was given a value of £20 by police officers.

Smith was taken to Livingston Police Station where she was searched and interviewed.

The 17-year-old admitted to being in possession of the cannabis and to providing it to Hinde.

Last week Smith, of Belvior Place, Blantyre pled guilty to supplying the class B drug and Hinde, whose address was given as Kelvin Gardens, Hamilton admitted possessing the drug.

Smith’s solicitor, Kevin Dougan, said his client had thought she was pregnant to Hinde at the time and felt he would end the relationship if she didn’t take the drugs to him.

Mr Dougan added: “She said she was not thinking properly at all and didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardise the relationship.

“Her whole family totally disapprove of her actions although they are supportive of her.

“She knows she shouldn’t have had anything to do with it.

“She understands that the court will be thinking about a custodial sentence and I have warned that is what could happen.

“The only reason why I would ask my lord not to do that is it is clear she is young and impressionable. The relationship is now over and she presents as a low risk of reoffending.

“She pled guilty at an early stage and she is hard working and does not have a history of offending.

“Against her is that she had committed a serious crime and must pay the penalty for that but there is an alternative open to the court.”

Hinde’s solicitor, Glenn Fraser, asked for a deferral of sentence on his client to see if he would be suitable for an alternative to custody.

“He seems to be learning a lesson from it although not immediately as this offence took place in the first month of his custodial sentence,” Mr Fraser added.

“This was at the beginning of his sentence when he was not coping but he is no longer wanting to take cannabis.

“He has served eight months and still has eight months to serve.

“He is adamant it will not happen again.”

But Sheriff Martin Edington said he had no option but to jail the teenager for the serious offence.

Giving Hinde an extra 80 days imprisonment Sheriff Edington said: “You pressurised your girlfriend to commit this offence and you got drugs successfully into a prison.

“You are already serving a long prison sentence and the only appropriate sentence is one of custody.”

Sheriff Edington, who revoked Smith’s bail and remanded her in custody for several hours while he considered the case, said he came close to jailing the first offender.

Handing her 200 hours of community service Sheriff Edington said: “Your family are devastated by what you did. You had a happy and stable upbringing and you are clearly an intelligent person.

“You do not drink or take drugs yourself and I have been told you have shown great remorse.

“You have had a taste of custody this morning albeit for a short time.

“Despite the heinous nature of your offence every other possible factor is in your favour and I have decided that you will have the chance to not let what I take to be one stupid mistake ruin your life.

“Community service is available and I have come, with grave hesitation I have to say, to the view that this would be an appropriate disposal in this case.

“I have to warn you that any breach of the order will result in you coming back to court and you should know that if you do that you will lose your liberty.

“That is likely to be for a substantial time and not the three or four hours you have today.”